| The Art of Czech Animation: A History of Political Dissent and Allegory Contributor(s): Whybray, Adam (Author) |
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ISBN: 1350194980 ISBN-13: 9781350194984 Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC OUR PRICE: $40.54 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: January 2022 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Performing Arts | Animation (see Also Film - Genres - Animated) - Performing Arts | Film - Genres - Animated - Performing Arts | Film - History & Criticism |
| Physical Information: 0.64" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (0.94 lbs) 288 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The Art of Czech Animation is the first comprehensive English language account of Czech animation from the 1920s to the present, covering both 2D animation forms and CGI, with a focus upon the stop-motion films of Jir Trnka, Herm na T rlov , Jan Svankmajer and Jir Barta. Stop-motion is a highly embodied form of animation and The Art of Czech Animation develops a new materialist approach to studying these films. Instead of imposing top-down Film Theory onto its case studies, the book's analysis is built up from close readings of the films themselves, with particular attention given to their non-human objects. In a time of environmental crisis, the unique way Czech animated films use allegory to de-centre the human world and give a voice to non-human aspects of the natural world points us towards a means by which culture can increase ecological awareness in viewers. Such a refutation of a human-centred view of the world was contrary to communist orthodoxy and it remains so under late-stage consumer-capitalism. As such, these films do not only offer beautiful examples of allegory, but stand as models of political dissent. The Art of Czech Animation is a unique endeavour of film philosophy to provide a materialist appraisal of a heretofore neglected strand of Central-Eastern European cinema. |